TIRE BRIGADE SCALE FIGURINES
1:18 & 1:24 | $16 TO $19 PER SET
We’ve been fans of the Motorhead Miniatures brand of scale figurines for a long time. What started as a bit of a novelty—a few themed figures to accompany diecast displays—has grown into huge array comprising several genres and multiple scales, plus a selection of accessories to outfit virtually any type of presentation or diorama. The latest is a line called “Tire Brigade.” This line was introduced simultaneously in 1:18 and 1:24; the larger scale comes in sets of two, while the
1:24s come in sets of three. As has become the custom with the company’s figure sets, each one is made up of different combinations of six original characters, each designated by name. Different combinations also feature different paint schemes, giving collectors multiple options to outfit their displays.
One of the things we appreciate about this new set is the “human” character of the features, and Motorhead Miniatures explained to us why that is. This set marks a return to using hand-sculpted figures. Some recent sets have employed computer-aided design and 3D-printing technologies which, while extremely precise, felt less personal. The company ultimately decided that having their masters sculpted by hand yielded a warmer feel to the characters. Isn’t it fascinating that even in this era of powerful computer tools that some processes still need that human touch?
The six characters that make up the Tire Brigade are Gary, Andie, Michele, Derek, Val, and Meg. Andie kneels on an unmounted automotive tire; she has a thumb hooked on her belt loop, and she holds a shop rag in her other hand. Derek is taking a lunch break, holding a sandwich in one hand and an openend wrench in the other, while sitting on a tire mounted on a 5-spoke alloy wheel. The bearded Gary holds a tire with an unusual solid rim in one hand and a wrench in the other, and the pockets of his overalls have a couple more wrenches and a pair of vise grips visible. Meg carries a motorcycle tire and a hub wrench. Michele kneels on an unmounted rear tire for a motorcycle, and she holds a cordless impact wrench; her outfit and footwear do seem slightly less practical than that of some of the other Brigade members. Val playfully leans through the center of a truck tire, wearing a pair of slacks and a crazy set of platform heels. And there are tool sets in red or blue in both scales. Motorhead Miniatures is taking preorders now for all Tire Brigade sets.